PRR ASSIGNMENT SYMBOLS

PRR LOCO ASSIGNMENTS-PILOT MARKINGS

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The following information is a listing of known PRR Locomotive Assignments. These initals were stenciled on Locomotive Pilot Beams. This is just the listing. For more in-depth information concerning this practice please see the PRRT&HS "Keystone". The issues to find this in are Vol. 5 #1 (March 1972) and Vol.6 #2 (June 1973)

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The Pennsylvania Railroad operated using Zones, Regions and Divisions and thus was their means of assigning locomotives for service. That said, the listing below follows that setup. The sets of initials you will see on the left of the page is what you would see stenciled on the pilot if you were to view them while standing in front of the loco. The first set of inital(s) is located on the left (engineers side) of the pilot beam and the next set would be found on the right (firemans side). You will see several instances that have 3 sets of initials listed. The second 2 sets of initials are arranged one above the other on the pilot with the top one being larger letters. Watch out for *notes as you go along. Several symbols are uique and or short lived.

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Here is a sample photograph to see these symbols in use. This is a photo of K4s #5432. On the pilot beam (engineers side) are stenciled the letters CP. On the (firemans side) of the pilot beam are the stenciled letters HBG. What does this mean? Well it means this particular K4s was assigned to the Pittsburgh Division (CP) and worked out of the Harrisburg Enginehouse (HBG). Click on the photo to view a larger image.

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PRR Locos assigned to the NEW YORK ZONE:

NJ L (Long Island RR) (Morris Park Enginehouse)

N L (Long Island RR) (Morris Park Enginehouse)--- *(1940's)

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Locos assigned to the New Jersey Division:

NJ JYC (Jersey City Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

NJ ME (Meadows Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

NJ ETE (East Trenton Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

NJ WH (West Morrisville Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

NJ WE (46th st. Phila. Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

NJ CTE (Camden Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)

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Locos assigned to the EASTERN REGION:

EJ L (Long Island RR) (Morris Park Enginehouse)*

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New Jersey Division:

EJ JYC (Jersey City Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)*

EJ ME (Meadows Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)*

EJ WM (West Morrisville Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)*

EJ CTE (Camden Enginehouse) (NY DIV.)* (*=before 1928 and Could also be known as TRENTON DIV)

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Philadelphia Terminal Division:

ET WPS (Old 46th. Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila.Term.Div.)

ET WE (46th st. Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila.Term.Div.)

ET WPH (West Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila.Term.Div.)

ET SoP (South Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila.Term.Div.)

ET CTE (Camden Enginehouse) (Atlantic Div.)

ET ETE (East Trenton Enginehouse) (Atlantic Div.)

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Eastern Pennsylavania Division:

EE ETE (East Trenton Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE WM (West Morrisville Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE WPS (Old 46th st Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE WE (46th st. Phila. Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE WPH (West Phila 31st st Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE LR (Lancaster Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE HEH1 (Harrisburg #1 Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE HEH2 (Harrisburg #2 Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE HBG (Harrisburg Enginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE EEH (Enola Eginehouse) (Phila. Div.)

EE EA (East Altoona Enginehouse) (Middle Div.)

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Southern Division:

ES WPS (Old 46th. St. Phila. Eng.house) (Maryland Div)

ES WE (46th st. Phila. Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES WPH (West Phila. Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES WGE (Wilmington Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES DEL (Delmar Enginehouse) (Delmarva Div)

ES CCE (Cape Charles Engunehouse) (Delmarva Div)

ES NY (Norfolk Yard Enginehouse) (Delmarva Div)

ES OH (Orangeville Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES PY (Potomac Yard Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES HBG (Harrisburg Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

ES EEH (Enola Enginehouse) (Maryland Div)

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Central Pennsylvania Division:

EC WPS (Old 46th st. Phila. Enginehouse) (Schuylkill D)

EC WE (46th st. Phla. Enginehouse) (Wilkes-Barre D)

EC WPH (West Phila. Eninehouse) (Schuylkill D)

EC WM (West Morrisville Enginehouse) (Schuylkill D)

EC HBG (Harrisburg Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

EC EEH (Enola Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

EC NEH (Northumberland Enginehouse) (Williamsport or Wilkes-Barre Div.

EC WT (Wiliamsport Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

EC EL (Elmira Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

EC REH (Renovo Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

EC EA (East Altoona Enginehouse) (Williamsport D)

Locos Assigned to the CENTRAL REGION:

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Northern Division:

CN BUF/EZ (Ebenezer Enginehouse) (Buffalo Div)

CN BUF/ON (Olean Enginehouse) (Buffalo Div)

CN BUF/OC (Oil City Engnehouse) (Buffalo Div)

CN REN/EE (Erie Enginehouse) (Renovo Div)

CN REN/ON (Olean Enginehouse) (Renovo Div)

CN ALLY/OC (Oil City Enginehouse) (Allegheny Div)

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Western Pennsylvania Division:

CP HBG (Harrisburg Enginehouse) (Pittsburgh Div)

CP PGH/HBG (Harrisburg Enginehouse) (Pittsburgh Div)

CP PGH/CGH (Conemaugh Enginehouse) (Pittsburgh Div)

CP PGH/PNE (Pitcarin Enginehouse) (Pittsburgh Div)

CP PGH/PE (28th st. Pittsburgh Enginehouse) (Pgh. Div)

CP PGH/SO (Shire Oaks Enginehouse) (Pittsburgh Div)

CP CGH/CGH (Conemaugh Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP CGH/PNE (Pitcarin Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP CGH/PE (28th st. Pittsburgh Enginehouse) (Conem Div)

CP CGH/SO (Shire Oaks Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP CGH/ALLY (Allegheny, Pgh. Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP CGH/CW (Conway Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP CGH/PHN (Phillipston Enginehouse) (Conemaugh Div)

CP MON/PE (28th st. Pittsburgh Enginehouse) (Mon Div)

CP MON/PNE (Pitcarin Enginehouse) (Monongahela Div)

CP MON/SO (Shire Oaks Enginehouse) (Monongahela Div)

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Lake Division:

CL E&A/EE (Erie Enginehouse) (Erie & Ashtabula Div)

CL E&A/MHN (Mahoningtown Enginehouse) (E&A Div)

CL E&A/CW (Conway Engiehouse) (E&A Div)

CL E&A/ALLY (Allegheny, Pgh. Enginehouse) (E&A Div)

CL E&A/PE (28th st. Pittsburgh Enginehouse) (E&A Div)

CL E&A/CAN (Canton Enginehouse) (E&A Div)

CL C&P (Cleveland & Pittsbugh Div) *(In mid 1920's)

CL C/CKS (Cleveland, Kinsman Rd. Enginehouse) (Cleveland Div)

CL C/AKN (Akron Enginehouse) (Cleveland Div)

CL C/CAN (Canton Enginehouse) (Cleveland Div)

CL C/ALLY (Allegheny, Pgh. Enginehouse) (Cleveland Div)

CL C/COL (Spruce St. Columbus Enginehouse) (Cleve Div)

CL C/STC (St. Claire Ave. Columbus Enginehouse) (Cleve Div)

CL CLEV/MHN (Mahonington Enginehouse) *late 1940's (Cleveland Div)

CL AKN/AKN (Akron Enginehouse) (Akron Div)

CL AKN/CO (Columbus Enginehouse) (*1920's) (Akron Div)

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Eastern Ohio Division:

PCO EAST (Eastern Div.) *(used in the early 1920's)

CO MAR (Marietta Div) *(used in the id 1920's)

CO EAST/PNE (Pitcarin Engiehouse) (Eastern Div)

CO EAST/ALLY (Allegheny, Pgh Enginehouse) (Eastern Div)

CO EAST/CW (Conway Enginehouse) (Eastern Div)

CO EAST/CAN (Canton Enginehouse) (Eastern Div)

CO CR (Crestline Enginehouse) (Eastern Div)

CO PH/PNE (Pitcarin Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO PH/PE (28th st. Pittsburgh Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO PH/ALLY (Allegheny, Pgh. Enginehouse) Panhandle Div)

CO PH/CW (Conway Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO PH/MJ (Mingo Jct. Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO PH/DEN (Dennison Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO PH/SP/ST (Spruce St. Columbus Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div) *Unusual, only one loco known to have this symbol in 1938

CO COL (Spruce St. Colubus Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO STC (St. Clair Ave. Columbus Enginehouse) (Panhandle Div)

CO CST (St. Clair Ave. Columbus Enginehouse) *late 1940's (Panhandle Div)

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WESTERN REGION:

Northwestern Division:

WN (Before mid 1930's) (Enginehouse not indicated)

WN CR (Crestline Enginehouse) (Ft. Wayne Div)

WN FEH (Ft. Wayne Enginehouse) (Ft. Wayne Div and Grand Rapid Div)

WN STC (St Clair Columbus Enginehouse) (Toledo Div)

WN CST (St Clair Columbus Enginehouse) *Late 1940's (Toledo Div)

WN TO (Toledo Enginehouse) (Toledo Div)

WN LO (Logansport Enginehouse) (Logansport Div)

WN CHZ (59th St, Chicago Enginehouse) (Chicago Terminal Div)

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Southwestern Division:

WCO (Columbus Div) *mid 1920's (Enginehouse not indicated)

WCI (Cincinnati Div) *mid 1920's (Enginehouse not indicated)

WI (Indianapolis Div) *mid 1920's (Enginehouse not indicated)

WST (St. Louis Div) *mid 1920's (Enginehouse not indicated)

WS (Before mid 1930's) (Enginehouse not indicated)

WS STC (St Clair Ave. Columbus Enginehouse) (Columbus, Cincinnati & St. Louis Divs)

WS CST (St. Clair Ave. Columbus Enginehouse) (Columbus, Cincinnati & St. Louis Divs) * Late 1940's

WS COL (Spruce St. Columbus Enginehouse) (Columbus, Cincinnati & St. Louis Divs)

WS PEND (Pendleton Enginehouse) (Cincinnati Div)

WS IND-H (Indianapolis, Hawthorne Enginehouse) (Indianapolis Div)

WS LOU (Louisville Enginehouse) (Indianapolis Div)

WS RL (Rose Lake Enginehouse) (St. Louis Div)

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MISCELLANEOUS SYMBOLS:

AS (Altoona Shops) *before 1929 (Enginehouse not indicated)

AW (Altoona Works) *after 1928 (Enginehouse not indicated)

SO (Southwestern Region, Central Ohio Grand Div. (Cincinnati Div) *Early 1920's (No enginehouse symbols used at this time)

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These 4 groups of symbols ( stars included ) were used on Locos in Pool Service between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Used on K4s and M1 Class Locos.

EE *WE

EE *HBG

CP *HBG

CP *PGH/PE

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PENNSYLVANIA-READING SEASHORE LINES:

PRL CTE (Camden Enginehouse)

PRL WE (46th st. Phila. Enginehouse)

PRL WM (West Morrisville Enginehouse)

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NEW SYMBOLS ADOPTED IN 1951 AFTER GRAND DIVISONS WERE ABOLISHED: THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS, GROUPED IN TO 3 REGIONS plus PRSL & ALTOONA:

EASTERN REGION:

EY (New York Div)

EA (Atlantic Div)

ET (Phila Term. Div.)

EP (Phila. Div)

EMD (Maryland Div)

ED (Delmarva Div)

ES (Susqueanna Div.)

EM (Middle Div)

CENTRAL REGION:

CP (Pittsburgh Div.)

CC (Conemaugh Div)

CN (Northern Div)

CL (Lake Div)

CE (Eastern Div)

CPH (Panhandle Div)

CGH REH (Conemaugh Divsion, Renovo Enginehouse) (used in 1952)

WESTERN REGION:

WF (Ft. Wayne Div)

WCH (Chicago Div)

WCO (Columbus Div)

WCI (Cincinnati Div)

WS (Southwestern Div)

OTHER LOCATIONS:

PRL (Pennsylvaina Reading Seashore Lines)

AW (Altoona Works)

THE ABOVE SYMBOLS WERE USED IN CONJUCTION WITH THE ENGINEHOUSE SYMBOLS, EXCEPT FOR ALTOONA WORKS.

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NEW SYMBOLS ADOPTED IN APRIL 1956 FOR NEW SYSTEM OF 9 REGIONS.

NY (New York Region)

PHILA (Philadelphia Region)

CHESA (Chesapeake Region)

PGH (Pittsburgh Region)

NOR (Northern Region)

LAKE (Lake Region)

BI (Buckeye Region)

NW (Northwestern Region)

SW (Southwestern Region)

ATL (Atlantic Region)

ALT WKS (Altoona Works)

PRL (Penn-Reading Seashore Lines)

THE ABOVE LIST AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY DID NOT ALWAYS INCLUDE THE ENGINEHOUSE SYMBOLS.

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All of the above information was found in the Vol. 5 #1, March 1972 issue of the PRRT&HS Keystone Publication. Vol. 6 #2 June 1973, explains the whole story behind Region, Division etc. A must read article to further understand the history behind the Pilot Beam Markings

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This excellent information can also help you produce more acurate models. I am not sure if they are still available but CHAMPION DECAL CO. (BLUE RIBBON SET), a decal manufacturer, use to make a sheet of these Pilot Symbol lettering. The set is filled with most, if not all, the different initals needed to represent each of the Divisions and Enginehouses. The set even includes the Star for the Pool assigned Locos. I highly recommend this set to anyone. Thanks for stopping in and hope all the above mentioned information helps everyone out. ************************************************************************************